Bacterial oxidation activity in heap leaching

Abstract

Bioleaching of sulfide minerals by bacteria, mainly Thiobacillus ferrooxidans (T. f.) and Thiobacillus thiooxidans, plays an important role in hydrometallurgy because of its economic and environmental attractions. The surveys of production process and the bacterial oxidation activity in the heap bioleaching were investigated. The results show that pH value is high, bacteria biomass and ferric concentration are low, generation time (above 7.13 h) is long in leachate, and less bacteria are adsorbed on the ores. The bacteria in the leachate exposing on the surface and connecting with mineral, have much faster oxidation rate of Fe(II) and shorter generation time, compared with those which are in the reservoir for a long time. There is diversity for oxidation activity of Fe(II), while there is no diversity for oxidation of sulfur. So it is advisable to add sulfuric acid to degrade pH value to 2.0, add nutrients and shorten recycling time of leachate, so as to enhance bacteria concentration of leachate and the leaching efficiency.

Keywords

heap bioleaching / oxidation activity / bacteria